Connections Newsletter 2007
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Brighton Secondary School Connect ions Connecting with the past, building the future 2007 will be remembered as the year we Brighton is such a bustling school there is always offi cially opened the long-awaited Volleyball something exciting on the go. Stadium. Many people worked consistently for 9 years to achieve this international standard facility, Perhaps the other major event of 2007 was the especially Volleyball Coordinator, John Tiver, establishment of the Appeals Planning Committee and Business Manager, James Nelligan. The which will set in place the infrastructure for a Major launch was a list of Who’s Who in politics and Gift Appeal to fund a new Community Performing volleyball. Premier Mike Rann offi cially opened Arts Centre at Brighton Secondary School. We the stadium supported by a delightful speech by hired Bennier and Associates, a well-established Olympian and Old Scholar, Beatrice Daly. The and highly successful fund-raising organisation to state-of-the-art fl oor covering will be at the Beijing assist us with raising $1.5m towards a $5.5m Olympics – a fi rst for Brighton. The closed Circuit Community Performing Arts Centre. We have television software permits students to scrutinize sought funding from all levels of government and their performance. Needless to say, the Volleyball are delighted that the Federal Labor Government staff and students are excited about the outcome. has pledged $2m towards the project. Then there’s the fl ood-lit Beach Volleyball courts alongside the stadium, providing a community The new centre will be an acoustically appropriate, facility as well as a training venue for the 2008 comfortable and well-appointed venue, boasting Schwatz World Beach Volleyball athletes. a 500 seat auditorium that will be used by and for the community and by Brighton Secondary We would love to take you on a tour of the School ensembles and drama performances. The new facility – just call 8375 8200 to make an facility is designed to include appropriate sight appointment. lines, modern technologies such as professional lighting grids and fl y tower. Of course 2007 has been another successful year with a plethora of students competing in This development will benefi t the broader Holdfast sporting events at state and national level; the Bay community and as such, an appeal is the Rock Eisteddfod team won second place in the ideal way to focus the community on philanthropy state fi nals; the music department performed to the benefi t of their local area. We need your more concerts than ever before and won fi rst help to create a network of support for the project. Comments place in the Adelaide City Council “Music in I would love to hear from you if you would like to the Squares” band competition. At the Adelaide fi nd out more. The Appeals Planning Committee Choral Eisteddfod the Treble Choir achieved 3rd meets from 8.00am to 9.00am every Friday at Principal place in the Open Choral Section and 1st place Brighton Secondary. Independent schools are in the Middle Schools Choirs Section. Also at the successful at fundraising because each generation Performing Arts Challenge in Sydney the Concert attends the school and thus traditions are fi rmly Choir gained 1st place in the Sacred Choral embedded. Brighton Secondary School has a Section. The volleyballers won 6 of the 8 state great history of highly successful graduates and championships and the debaters were runners-up citizens. We want to build the same deep tradition in the fi nals. where old scholars feel a passion to support their Alma Mater. OLIVIA O’NEILL PRINCIPAL FRIENDS OF BRIGHTON SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER I ISSUE 12 CONNECTIONS I 2 Governing Council Report Community is what keeps a good school getting better. Children, families and schools are parts of life that remind us of the importance of community. Community also shows how the sum of our parts produces something far greater than we could imagine. Our community is not only in the present, but includes the legacy of many who have contributed beforehand, and those to whom we hand on some of the fruits of our Another major issue which we are continuing to labours. The highlight for the year 2007 has most pursue is the provision of bus bays in King George certainly been the completion and opening of St at the rear of the school. The SRC re-ignited this the school’s Volleyball stadium. This realises and issue, making a video of the chaos that occurs symbolises the vision and countless hours of effort morning and afternoon each day. Together with by individuals and committee as well as all of the Governing Council they sent the video and the ‘networking’ that has been done over the past letters to various authorities and politicians asking decade between the many stakeholders outside for the matter to be addressed. We are continuing and inside the school community. We extend our to negotiate the matter with the Holdfast Bay thanks and gratitude to all those individuals who Council who are the authority responsible for this facilitated its completion, especially to those Old public safety matter. Scholars who have assisted. This is the fi nal year that I will be serving on the Not wanting to hold back a great school Governing Council, for our youngest of three is community, the Governing Council has ‘bitten the now fi nishing year 12. For our family’s eleven year bullet’ by commissioning a scoping study into the relationship with the school we are exceptionally possibility of building a comprehensive Performing grateful. This includes the committed staff, parents Arts Centre. This will be used in particular by the and Old Scholars who seek to improve and value many drama and music groups in the school, and the all round education of our emerging adults. for general assemblies and public meetings. As I thank all Old Scholars of the school for the with the Volleyball stadium it will be used by the many ways in which you have made a small or wider community and so our fundraising efforts great contribution to the life of our school. Your are moving in these wider directions. In the involvement in whatever way is a strong statement same way as the dream of the Volleyball stadium to our current students as they launch into the wider seemed impossible, we are now embarking on a world after gaining greatly at Brighton Secondary new venture. School. Finally I thank the members of the Governing Council and the Principal, Olivia O’Neill, for giving of their time, wisdom and energy. It is an exciting way in which to contribute to the life of the school, which is refl ected by the fact that our meetings are well attended and are an important open forum for solid and passionate discussion about a wide range of issues and planning for the future community of Brighton Secondary School. The continued interest, support and input from the Old Scholars is especially appreciated and we will be looking to you in particular with the forthcoming project of the Performing Arts Centre. Mike Pietsch FRIENDS OF BRIGHTON SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWSLETTER I ISSUE 12 CONNECTIONS I 3 Anzac Day Ceremony Brighton Jetty April 25th It is becoming a valued tradition for the school to One of whom also became a POW in Malaya. be involved in the Brighton RSL Anzac Day Dawn Service on April 25th. Under the enthusiastic I am amazed at the stories I have read and I know direction of Ms Annie Kwok the treble choir and all of you who are here today have your own the Senior Girls choir sang and contributed to this story to tell, as I believe there is no family that has most successful community event. It is an honour been left unaffected. for our students to perform at such an occasion. The students were excellent ambassadors for the I am proud to be an Australian, even more so - an Special Interest Music program and the school. indigenous Australian, as we continue to strive for peace and unity among all nations and remember Congratulations also to our Head Prefects Victoria those who have sacrifi ced so greatly, so that we Anderson and Sam Cummings who represented can live our lives with compassion, humanity and us most ably by speaking about the Anzac spirit freedom.” and presenting a laurel wreath on behalf of the school. Sam’s speech also refl ected on his family’s history and connection with the Anzac story. He An excerpt of Victoria’s speech follows: referred to his great grandfather who became a member of the Murray Cods, a group of returned “When asked to speak today, I thought this would servicemen who stayed together after the war be the perfect opportunity to research my family, and participated successfully in the Olympics as and their willingness to serve their country in times a rowing team. of need. I have learned of the endurance, loyalty, courage and camaraderie the diggers and other Because of our involvement with this service and personnel throughout all confl icts possessed. This the school’s willingness to keep the Anzac Spirit “ANZAC” Spirit enabled them to defend and alive we have created special Spirit of Anzac protect Australia and our allied Countries, and to Awards which are sponsored by the RSL and withstand the harsh conditions that were and still presented to deserving students in each year level continue to be encountered. at our fi nal presentation assemblies. My research led me to Gallipoli, where a great The criteria for these awards are “the student grandfather participated in the fi rst landing as a displays leadership and a signifi cant contribution soldier in the 10th Battalion, to the Somme - where to the school and / or wider community”.